Brian Ashton believes England have time to emerge as contenders at next year's World Cup, but only if they build on their narrow win over Australia.

As Martin Johnson's squad begin their pre-season training camp at Twickenham today, the man who guided the national team to the final of the last World Cup in 2007 is optimistic that a corner may have been turned by the 21-20 victory in Sydney this summer.

Rolling back the years: Ashton guided England to the World Cup final in 2007

England stumbled into the final three years ago and Ashton said: 'Given
that we got to the final last time, I believe anything can happen in a
World Cup. England are much further ahead now because Johnno has been
there for two years. I was only there for six months before the last
World Cup. We didn't even know what our squad was going to be.'